Timbers, Whitecaps play to 2-2 tie

Vancouver Whitecaps Camilo Sanvezzo, right, fights for control of the ball with Portland Timbers Jack Jewsbury, left, during first half Sunday. (Jonathan Hayward / Canadian Press)

By Associated Press

Published: October 6, 2013, 7:42 PM

Updated: October 6, 2013, 10:15 PM

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Camilo Sanvezzo scored two quick goals, including one off a bicycle kick in the 78th minute that pulled the Vancouver Whitecaps into a wild 2-2 draw with the Portland Timbers in a Cascadia Cup rivalry match Sunday night.

Sanvezzo scored his first goal in the 76th minute to give to give the Whitecaps a 1-1 tie with the Timbers, but then Will Johnson scored in the 77th to pull Portland back ahead.

“It was a little wild. I haven’t had a game like that in a while,” Portland defender Jack Jewsbury said.

The Timbers (12-5-14) extended their unbeaten streak to five matches, but remained in third place in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference behind Real Salt Lake and the Seattle Sounders. Portland is vying for its first playoff berth since joining MLS in 2011.

Vancouver (11-11-9) is barely alive in the playoff race, winless in four straight matches with time running out for a second straight playoff appearance.

“Obviously, you’re disappointed that you didn’t get all three (points), because I thought we deserved (a win) tonight,” said Vancouver captain Jay DeMerit, who had called the game a “must-win” a day earlier. “But a point is a point.”

The Cascadia Cup is an annual three-way competition between the Whitecaps, Timbers and the Sounders. The trophy itself was introduced in 2004 when all three teams were part of the United Soccer Leagues First Division.

But the actual rivalry between the three teams dates to 1975, when all of them were part of the North American Soccer League.

Darlington Nagbe scored for Portland in the 41st minute, taking a pass from Johnson and firing inside the left post beyond the reach of Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted.

“We showed great character today, and I think that bodes well for the future,” Ousted said.

It was the third meeting between the Timbers and Whitecaps this season, both previous meetings also ended in draws.

“We’re disappointed that we didn’t earn three points,” Jewsbury said. “But at the end of the day, you’ve got to congratulate Camilo on two unbelievable, world-class goals.”

Vancouver continues the Cascadia rivalry series with a match in Seattle on Wednesday, while the Timbers will host the Sounders next Sunday.